Device for lifting heavy equipment



Nov. 1, 1960 M. MARTINEZ `2,958,508

DEVICE FOR LIFTING HEAVY EQUIPMENT Filed May 23, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet l1v1/ENT.

/V/m/a MMT/nez Nov. 1, 1960 M. MARTINI-:z

DEVICE FOR LIFTING HEAVY EQUIPMENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 23, 19551N V EN TOR. /7/6 U54 MPN/V52 V. no

Nov. 1, 1960 M. MARTINEZ 2,958,508

DEVICE FOR LIFTING HEAVY EQUIPMENT Filed May 23, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Hi S (-16 (se 'l0 F Cz] 'IO m "5 b? molo: 42 I E: "7 I I 77 32- 7@- le/5| 3' O Q E E 77 5/ 77 o 1,0/ (a7 75/ (a6 DEVICE ron Marmo nativanoUnurENr Miguel Martinez, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico (R0. Box 7457, Bo.Obrero, Santurce, Puerto Rico) Filed May 2s, `1955, ser. No. 510,154

9 claims. (ci. 254-89) This invention relates to a device to lift heavyequipment.

Diiculty has been experienced with earth moving tractor-operatedexcavating, digging and the like equipment. One of such diiiiculties hasbeen the fact that such equipment is so heavy that it cannot be movedover many .bridges which could support either the tractor or body ofsuch equipment separately. It is therefore one object of the presentinvention to provide a highly improved mechanism for lifting the body ofsuch equipment, so that the tractor may be removed and transportedseparately, and also, to permit the body to be placed on a trailer andmoved over a bridge separately from the tractor.

Another advantage of the mechanism embodying the present invention, isto permit working on the underside of the body of such equipment as forexample, when making repairs.

The equipment embodying the present invention comprises a pair of frontjacks supporting a cross beam connected to the front of the body, and apair of rear jacks supporting a cross lbeam connected to the rear of thebody. These jacks each comprise a jack pump which may be hydraulicallyor air operated, or operated in some other way. These pumps may beoperated separately by four men or they may be connected together to asingle oil or air pump to pump all four jack pumps at once throughproper pipe connections.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a device of thecharacter described, a jack comprising four inclined legs pivoted attheir upper ends to a center guide post, the lower end of the post beingconnected by links to lower position of the legs, a hydraulic jack pumpbeing positioned within the centerpost and resting on its lower end, anda slider being slidably mounted on the centerpost and adapted to beraised by the jack pump, said slider supporting one end of a cross beamattached to the body of the tractor-operated equipment.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus of thecharacter described which may be quickly set up or disassembled andwhich shall be rugged, strong and durable and capable of lifting heavytruck bodies.

In accordance with the present invention, the two front jacks aresubstantially similar to the two rear jacks, except that the front jacksare taller, and one embodies a slight modication of the other.

Still a further obieet of this invention is to provide a strong, durableand rugged device of the character described which shall be relativelyinexpensive to manufacture, and which shall be relatively inexpensive toa high degree in use.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent from theconsideration of the description following, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings illustrating one operative embodiment by way ofexample.

2,958,508 Patented Nov. l, 1960 'In the drawings, wherein like referencenumerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a device to lift heavy equipmentembodying the invention, and showing the body of earth removingequipment lifted off the tractor;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is `a rear elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational View of one of the front jacks;

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of the upper end of the centerpost of thejack shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the lower end of said centerpost;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the bottom jack pumpsupporting end ofthe centerpost;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the beam-supporting slider of thecenterpost;

Fig. lO is a perspective View showing the connections for the linkswhich support the lower end of the centerpost to one of the legs of thefront jack;

Fig. 11 is a perspective View of a supporting pin for supporting theslider on the center post;

Fig. 12 is a perspective View of the upper end of one of the inclinedlegs of the front jack;

Fig. 13 is a side elevational view of one of the bolts used for hingingthe legs of the center post;

Fig. 14 is a View similar to Fig. l2, but illustrating the upper end ofone of the legs of a rear jack;

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of one of the front beamreceiving members;and

Fig. 16 is a perspective View of one of receiving members.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, 10 designates excavatingequipment of usual construction comprising generally a tractor 11 and abody 12. The drawing furthermore illustrates a device 15 embodying theinvention for lifting the body 12 oftr the tractor 11. Said device 15comprises generally a pair of similar front jacks 17 supporting a frontcross beam 18, passing through a pair of U-bolts 19 engaging pins 20 atthe front end of the body. On the U-bolts are spacer plates 21 throughwhich the threaded ends 22 of the U-bolts pass. Nuts 23 are screwed tothe threaded ends 22 of the U-bolts.

The device further comprises generally a pair of rear jacks 17a similarto the jacks 17 except as hereinafter described, and supporting a reartransverse beam 25 passing through a pair of members 2.6 (see Fig. 15)engaged beneath the rear end of the body 12.

The front jack 17 comprises a center-post 30. Said centerpost 30comprises a pair of parallel spaced, vertical, opposed channel members31, each comprising parallel tlanges 32 connected by a web 33. The webs33 of members 31 are parallel to each other and the flanges 32 of onemember 31 are in alignment with the flanges 32 of the other member 31.The upper ends of the two channel-shaped members 31 are interconnectedby a top channel-member 34 comprising a web 35 having parallelupstanding channels 36. The web 35 of the channel-member 3421 is weldedto the top edges of the web and ilange portions of the two members 31.It will be noted that the flanges 36 are at right angles to the webs 33.

The lower ends of the channel members 31 are welded lto a lowersupporting member 40 (see Figs. 7 and 8). Member 40 comprises a topchannel member 41 having a top web portion 42 and downwardly extendingparallel the front beam- Y 3 side anges 43. Fitted within the channel 41is a channel 44. The channel 44 comprises a bottom web 45 parallel toweb 42 and side anges 46 contacting the inner sides of the anges 43.Between the webs 42 and 45 are inserted a pair of opposite V-shaped bars49. The apices S of the bars 49 contact one another while the outer endsof the arms of the V-shaped bars 49 contact the inner sides of the outerends of the flanges 46. The channel-shaped members 41 and 44 and thebars 49 a-re welded together and the top web 42 is welded to the lowerends of the webs 33 and flanges 32 of members 31. ft will be noted thatthe flanges 43 are at right angles to the Webs 33. Welded to the anges32, several inches above the lower ends of said flangesare aperturedears 51 for the purpose hereinafter appearing. These ears 51 are eachformed with a through opening 52.

Referring now to Fig. 6, it will be noted that there is welded withineach of the channel members 31 below the upper end thereof, a bracket55. Each bracket 55 comprises a channel-shaped member 56 having a web 57from which extend flanges 58. The lianges 58 extend from one ange 32 tothe opposed flange 32. The llanges 58 are horizontal, one above theother, and the web 57 is parallel to the web 33 and locatedsubstantially in alignment with the outer edges of the flanges 32. Saidchannel 56 is welded at all its outer edges to the channel 31. Welded tothe outer ends of the webs 37 are inclined ears 60. The ears 60 are invertical, diagonal planes, and each is formed with an aperture 61. Saidears 60 project at an angle of 45 to the planes of the flanges 32.

The centerpost 30 is supported by four similar, diagonal, inclined legs65. Each leg 65 is of T-shaped cross section and is inclined. Each leg65 comprises a flange 66 which extends outwardly from the center of aweb 67. Welded to the upper end of the web 67 of each leg are a pair ofspaced parallel, apertured ears 68, each formed with an aperture orthrough opening 69. Each pair of ears 68 receives therebetween one ofthe ears 60. The opening 69 registers with the opening 61. Extendingthrough each pair of registering openings 61, 69 is a bolt 70 shown inFig. 13. The lower end of each leg 65 is cut at an incline, and weldedthereto is a horizontal foot plate 71. It will be noted that the legs 65extend diagonally inwardly and upwardly from four corners.

Welded to the inner surface of the web 67 of each leg 65 (see Fig. l0),several inches above its lower end, is an apertured ear 74 eachreceiving a through-bolt 70. The bolts 76 on the ears 74 areinterconnected by links 75 and 76. Said bolts 70 are also interconnectedby links 77 to bolts 70 passing through openings 52 in the ears 51. Thusthe links 77 are diagonal, whereas the links 75 and 76 form a rectangle.The ears 74 are substantially at the level of the ears 51.

The webs 33 are formed with pairs of aligned, square openings 80 locatedon one side and alternating with openings 81 located on its oppositeside. The openings 80 and 81 are at different levels. Extending throughone pair of openings 80 or 81 is supporting pin 82 (see Figs. 6 and 1l).Each pin 82 comprises a square bar 83 having a beveled off front end 84.Welded to the rear end of bar 83 is a hand ring 85. The pin 82 may beremoved from one pair of openings 86 or 81 at one level and insertedthrough another pair of such openings on another level, as will be seenhereinafter.

Slidably mounted Von the centerpost and between the channel-shapedmembers 31 thereof, is a slider 90 (see Figs. 4 and 9). The slider 90comprises a flat rectangular plate 91 to opposite sides of which arewelded angleirons 92. Each angle-iron 92 has an outwardly extendingbottom ange 93, contacting and Welded to the plate 91, and an upstandingflange 94. The flanges 94 are parallel to one another and are spacedinwardly from the outer edges 91a of the plate 91. Welded to theundersides of the ends of the plate 91 are a pair of parallelangle-irons 95. The angle-irons 95 are at right angles to theangle-irons 92. Each angle-iron 9S comprises a top flange 96 contactingthe underside of plate 91 and a downwardly extending ange 97. The outeredges of the ange 96 are co-extensive with the end edges of the plate91. The outer ends of the angle-irons 95 extend beyond the end edges 91aof plate 91. It will now be understood that the plate 91 is disposedbetween the webs 33 of channel-shaped members 31. The outer ends of theangle-irons 95 contact the outer sides of the flanges 32 of thechannel-shaped members 31. The angle-irons 92 pass between the webs 33of the channelshaped members 31.

The front cross beam 18 rests on the plate 91 and between the ilanges 94of the channel-shaped members 92 as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing. Saidslider may be supported on the pin 82 when said pin is inserted in apair of openings 80 or 81. Thus the slider may be supported at variousheights by the pin 82.

Supported on the member 41 is a hydraulic jack pump 100 of any suitableconstruction. Said pump is disposed between the Webs 33 and its plunger101 may contact the underside of the plate 91. The four jack pumps 100may be simultaneously actuated by four men, or they may be connected bysuitable connections to a single hydraulic pressure system. Air jackpumps may be used instead of hydraulic ones.

The rear jacks 17a diier from the front jacks only in that they arelower, and also in a detail shown in Fig. 14. In Fig. 14 there is showna leg 65a of one of the rear jacks. Said leg 65a comprises an inwardlyextending flange 66a extending from an outer web 67a. The leg 65a is ofT-shaped cross section like the leg 65. However, a pair of ears arewelded to the upper end of the llange 66a. These ears have spacedapertured walls 111 to receive the ears 55 on the centerpost of the rearjacks.

The members 26 for supporting the rear beam 25 may each comprise a pairof spaced parallel opposed channel-members having parallel webs 121 andaligned flanges 122. The upper and lower ends of said channel-shapedmembers 112 are interconnected by a top plate 123 and by a bottom plate124. Extending to one side of the upper end of one of the channelmembers 112, is a top channel having a top web 126 and downwardlyextending side ilanges 127. Interconnecting the bottom plate 124 withthe underside of the web 126 is an inclined plate 129 provided with acentral supporting or bracing rib 130. The rear beam 25 passes betweenthe channel members 122. The top plates 123, 125 engage beneath the rearend of the truck body 12 for supporting said body. The front end of thebody is supported on the front cross beam 18 passing through the bolts19. Thus, when the four jack pumps 100 are simultaneously operated, thetwo cross beams 18 and 25 are simultaneously raised for lifting the body12.

While the invention has been described in relation to the lifting of atractor body, it will be understood that other objects or heavyequipment may be lifted with the device described and disclosed hereinand embodying the present invention.

It will thus be seen that there is provided an apparatus in which theseveral objects of this invention are achieved and which is well adaptedto meet the conditions of practical use.

As possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and asvarious changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it isto be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in theaccompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

I claim:

1. A jack comprising a centerpost, said centerpost comprising a pair ofvertical, channel-shaped members having vertical, parallel, spaced websand aligned flanges extending outwardly from one another, a top platewelded to the upper ends of said vertical channel-shaped members, abottom member welded to the lower ends of said vertical channel-shapedmembers, transverse members aligned with one another and disposed withinthe channelshaped members of said centerpost and welded thereto,outwardly inclined apertured ears welded to the ends of said transversemembers, upwardly and inwardly inclined diagonal legs bolted to saidapertured ears, ears welded to the flanges of said verticalchannel-shaped members above said bottom member, apertured ears Weldedto said legs above their lower ends, links interconnecting each pair ofadjacent legs by bolts passing through the apertured ears at the lowerends of said legs, diagonal links interconnecting the ears at the lowerends of said legs with the ears at the lower ends of said channel-shapedmembers, a slider slidably mounted between the vertical channel-shapedmembers of said centerpost and means on the centerpost to raise theslider.

2. The combination of claim 1, the webs of said channel-shaped membersbeing formed with aligned pairs of openings and a pin received within apair of said openings and transversing the space between said webs forsupporting said slider.

3. The combination of claim 2, said slider comprising a plate disposedbetween the webs of said channel-shaped members of the centerpost and apair of angle-irons welded to the underside of the plate and extendingtherebeyond, and contacting the outer sides of the anges of saidchannel-shaped members.

4. The combination of claim 3, and a second pair of angle-irons weldedto the top of the plate `and disposed parallel to said webs.

5. The combination of claim 1, said bottom members comprising a channelhaving a top web and downwardly extending Bauges and a second channelhaving a bottom web and upwardly extending anges fitted within the iirstchannel of said bottom member, and a pair of oppositely extendingV-shaped bars between the webs of the channels of said member and weldedthereto.

6. A pair of jacks, each comprising a centerpost, having opposedvertical walls, a plurality of inclined diagonal legs detachablyattached at their upper ends to the centerpost, links detachablyattaching the legs to each other and to the lower ends of thecenterpost, said centerpost having a bottom member and a top memberinterconnecting said opposed vertical walls, a slider slidably mountedon the centerpost and between said vertical walls, the opposed walls ofone centerpost being aligned with the opposed walls of the othercenterpost, a cross beam having its ends received between the verticalwalls of said centerposts and resting on said sliders, and a fluid jackpump on the centerpost of each jack, resting on the bottom memberthereof and between the vertical walls thereof, and below said sliderfor raising the slider whereby the height of the cross beam may bevaried in combination with a pair of members receiving the cross beamtherethrough and adapted to engage an object to be lifted.

7. The combination of claim 6, in combination with means to iix eachslider to its centerpost at different heights for retaining said sliderat said height even when the jack pump is released.

8. A jack support, comprising a centerpost, said centerpost comprising apair of opposed parallel symmetrically arranged walls, a platforminterconnecting the lower ends of said walls, means to interconnect theupper ends of said walls, a pair of outwardly inclined apertured earsbelow the upper end of each wall, a slider slidably mounted between saidwalls for vertical movement, means on the centerpost to raise theslider, said slider having guides contacting said walls, a pair ofoutwardly extending `apertured ears xed to the lower end of each wall, apair of inclined legs having apertured ears at their upper endsregistering with the outwardly inclined apertured ears on each of saidwalls, pins interconnecting the outwardly inclined apertured ears on thewalls with the apertured ears on said legs, said legs being providedwith apertured ears adjacent their lower ends, links connecting theoutwardly extending apertured ears at the lower end of each wall withthe ears adjacent the lower ends of a pair of said legs, `and linksinterconnecting the apertured ears adjacent the lower end of each legwith the apertured ears at the lower ends of a pair of adjacent legs.

9. In combination, a pair of jack supports, each of the jack supportscomprising a centerpost, said centerpost comprising a pair of parallelspaced opposed walls, a platform interconnecting the lower ends of eachpair of walls, means interconnecting the upper ends of each pair ofwalls, a slider for each of said pair of jack supports, each sliderbeing slidably mounted for vertical movement between each pair of walls,means on the jack supports for raising the sliders, means to maintaineach slider in each of various selected vertical heights, a pair ofoutwardly inclined legs connected at their upper ends to each of thewalls of each jack support, below the upper ends thereof, means toconnect the legs of each jack support to the lower end of eachcenterpost, said centerposts being aligned with each other, and theWalls of one centerpost being in alignment with the walls of the othercenterpost, whereby the spaces between the walls of said centerposts arein alignment, and a cross beam having the ends thereof passing throughthe spaces between the opposed walls of said centerposts and resting onsaid sliders in combination with a pair of members slidably mounted onsaid beam and between said jack supports and having means to supportaload.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 51,129Bickford Mar. 28, 1865 173,293 Hockman Feb. 8, 1876 197,701 Warner Nov.27, 1877 537,631 Cooper Apr. 16, 1895 1,206,361 Parker Nov. 28, 19161,300,154 Fouse Apr. 8, 1919 1,577,835 Mann Mar. 23, 1926 2,147,030Haskin Feb. 14, 1939 2,160,446 Stalfort May 30, 1939 2,227,460 MorgensenJan. 7, 1941 2,240,724 Stoehr May 6, 1941 2,284,958 Grime June 2, 19422,432,076 Rothery Dec. 2, 1947 2,439,854 Lipski Apr. 20, 1948 2,514,095Schreiber July 4, 1950 2,600,276 Smith June 10, 1952 2,742,257 Hott Apr.17, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 336,399 France Ian. 14, 1904 261,674 GreatBritain Nov. 15, 1926 508,625 Great Britain `luly 4, 1939

